Huawei Confirms Kirin 9020 SoC for Mate X6 and Mate 70 Series Smartphones

Huawei has officially unveiled its latest flagship devices, including the Mate X6 foldable and  Mate 70 series smartphones, powered by  Kirin 9020 SoC. While speculation initially pointed to  Kirin 9100 as a processor of choice, benchmark results have now confirmed  Kirin 9020 is at the heart of Huawei’s newest high-end device

Kirin 9020: A Performance Boost for Huawei 

Kirin 9020, a 12-core system-on-chip (SoC), represents a significant upgrade over its predecessor,  Kirin 9010, used in the Mate 60 series. Huawei’s CEO had promised a 30% performance improvement for the new devices, and early benchmark results suggest Kirin 9020 delivers on that promise. 

Key specifications include: 

• CPU Configuration: 

• 2 prime cores clocked at 2.5GHz. 

• 6 mid-range cores at 2.1GHz. 

• 4 efficiency cores running at 1.6GHz. 

• GPU: Maleoon 920 with a maximum clock speed of 840MHz. 

Mate 70 Pro+ scored an impressive 1,248,520 points on AnTuTu, showcasing solid performance improvements. While it doesn’t rival top-tier chipsets from Qualcomm or MediaTek, it stands as a significant step forward for Huawei’s in-house silicon. 

Custom Architecture and Manufacturing Mystery 

Details about the architecture and manufacturing process of  Kirin 9020 remain unclear. Early rumors suggested Huawei might use a 5nm or 6nm process, but no confirmation has been provided. Additionally, reports indicate that HiSilicon’s Taishan CPU cores might be used for prime and mid-core clusters, instead of relying on ARM’s designs. 

Device Lineup: Huawei’s Flagship Arsenal 

Kirin 9020 powers Huawei’s latest flagship lineup, which includes: 

• Huawei Mate X6: A foldable smartphone offering cutting-edge design and innovation. 

• Huawei Mate 70 Series: Four models catering to diverse user needs, with  Mate 70 Pro+ as a top-tier option. 

Global Availability 

While devices were launched in China, Huawei plans to bring them to global markets soon. The absence of chipset details during the launch event aligns with Huawei’s cautious approach, likely to avoid additional scrutiny and maintain focus on devices’ features and capabilities. 

Competitive Landscape 

Kirin 9020 falls short of matching the performance of flagship processors like Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or MediaTek’s Dimensity 9300. However, it demonstrates Huawei’s resilience and innovation, especially amid challenges related to sourcing cutting-edge chip technology. 

Huawei’s latest Mate series and  Kirin 9020 underscore the company’s commitment to staying competitive in the premium smartphone market, delivering powerful and innovative solutions despite global pressures.